Game apparatus



H. EW|NG GAME PPARATUS Filed 1923 e a i@ :w W I a x MM I; mm

M n n Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

JOSEPH H. EWING, OF MALTA, OHIO.

GAME ArrAnArUs.

Application filed January's, 1923. Serial no. 611,444.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. EWING. a citizen of the United States, residing at Malta, in the county of Morgan and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatuses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvement in games.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of agame apparatus embodying means to test the skill of players and including features which render the same extremely entertaining and amusing to players.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a game which includes a plurality of score increasing and decreasing elements, adapted to be operated by a playing element thrown by a player, so that a desired score may be approached.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a game apparatus including novel scoring elements, movably mounted, and having score increasing and decreasing delineations proximately disposed and adapted for skillful movement by players.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a game apparatus of the above mentioned character which embodies score increasing and score decreasing members, movably positioned in proximate relation, and adapted for skillful hitting by a playing element projected by an operator; the playing element being so related to the dimensions of the scoring elements as to make it diflicult to obtaina perfect hit on the score increasing element.

Other ob 'ects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved,

game apparatus.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the improved game apparatus showing cooperating parts thereof.

Figure 3 is a front view of the improved game apparatus, showing certain scoring elements thereof in score calculating positions.

Figure 4.- is an end elevation of the improved game apparatus,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a playing element embodied as a part of the improved game apparatus.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodlment of this invention, the letter A generally desi nates the improved game, which may include a support B; scoring arrangement C; regulating means 1); and a playing element E.

The improved game apparatus may be in minature form, or may be relatively large and used as an outdoor game, at picnics, carnivals, fairs or other outings.

The supporting base B is preferably of a good grade of hardwood. and may be rectangular in formation.

The scoring arrangement C presents certain novel details, and includes score increasing elements 15, and score decreasing elements 16, which are alternately pivoted in alignment, or in the same plane upon the top surface of the supporting base B. The scoring elements 15 and 16 may be of any a roved formation. although each preferably providing a polygonal shaped body portion 20 and a reduced head 21. The elements 15 and 16 are of uniform width and are uniformally spaced. The scoring or target elements 15 and 16 are designated by delineations novelly placed. both on the front faces or surfaces thereof, and upon the bottom surfaces, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. These playing elements are each pivotally carried by the base B in the same manner, as by a strap hinge 25; one leaf portion of which is detachably secured to the top surface of the base B, and the other leaf portion of which is secured to the rear of the scoring ele ment. In this manner when upright the scoring element on its bottom surface abuts the top surface of the base B.

Any arrangement of scoring delineations may be provided on the score increasing and score decreasing elements 15 and 16 respectively. A simple and effective scoring arrangement is that of providing the front and bottom surfaces of /t 0 score increasing elements 15 with the numeral 5, and providing the front-and bottom surfaces of the score decreasing elements 16 with the numeral having a circle thereabout, to designate that the numeral or delineation is to be subtracted from a persons score when ,knocked in collapsed relation upon the supporting base B. It is preferred that the score increasing elements differentiate from the score decreasing elements not only as to numerical designations, but also as to other markings thereon, such as the provision of grotesque faces or contrasting colors.

The playing, element E is preferably spherical and when used in connection with an outdoor apparatus embodying the details of this invention, the playing element E ma be of the size of an ordinary base ball. Thls ball or projectile element E -is of a diameter substantially equal to the width of one of the scoring elements 15 or 16, so that if the scoring element 15 of 16 is hit perfectly. the same will be knocked into collapsed substantially horizontal relation upon the sup ort B. If not hit perfectly, the ball wil knock a score increasing and score descreasing element into collapsed scoring relation. This relation of the ball E with respect to the scoring elements 15 and 16 is indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The means D has been provided for righting the scoring elements 15 and 16, which have been collapsed upon the base B after the playing of a person, This means includes a substantially U-shaped lifting frame 30, which may be of bar material, including the side legs 31 connected by a relatively long bar portion 33. The free ends of the legs 31 are inturne'd, as at 34, in aligning relation, and are oscillatively disposed in sockets 35 detachably positioned on the opposite side edges of margins of the supporting base E, substantially as is lllustrated 1n the drawing. A standard 40 is preferably disposed in vertical relation adiacent and forwardly of the supporting base B, having a pulley or analagous device 41 at the top thereof, through which a cable 43 is trained; said cable at one end thereof being 100 ed over the bar portion 33 at the rightin frame 30. The opposite end of the cable 43 is to be disposed adjacent the position of the players, whereby upon pulling of the cable 43, the U-shaped righting or lifting bar 30 may be oscillated upwardly to position any collapsed scoring elements 15 and 16 in their vertical positions. It is to be noted that the lifting bar 30 when in its most upward position is not vertically positioned, but is diagonal or rearwardly inclined with respect to the plane in which the scoring elements 15 and 16 are disposed, so that said lifting bar 30 may by gravity assume a position upon the. supporting base B, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing.

A variety of games may be played with the improved apparatus herein illustrated, described, and claimed. In the arrangement of score increasing and decreasing elements 15 and 16 illustrated in the drawing, a perfect high score will be 15, which may only be obtained by squarely hitting the three score increasing elements 15 by the projectile or ball elements E. Should a player knock any of the score decreasing elements 16 into collapsed relation on the base B, it can readily be understood that the delineation on that score decreasing element should be subtracted from his or her score. While the most approved game played will entail the obtaining of a perfect highest score, various games may be played with the improved apparatus. For in stance, if it is desired to secure a predetermined score, such as 9, a player will necessarily have to hit two of the score increasing elements, which gives a total of 10, and also hit a score decreasing element, which substracted from the 10 would leave a resultant of 9.

From the foregoing description of this invention, it is obvious that a game apparatus has been provided, which possesses features which render the same extremely entertaining and amusing, and which will test the skill of those participating. The improved game may be used as a trade stimulator, or in connection with the sale of merchandise, or the giving of prizes or rewards for certain scores. The improved device is very durably constructed, and economical. Incident to its compact arrangement, the same is portable and occupies little space.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A game comprising a support, a series of target elements movably carried by said support having score increasing delineations thereon, a second series of target elements g alternately disposed with respect to the targets of said first mentioned series and having score decreasing 'delineations thereon, and playing elements adapted for micetion toward the target elements of said first and second mentioned series. whereby upon hitting the same they may be moved mto scoring positions.

2. A game comprising a base having a horizontal top surface, a plurality of scoring elements, means pivotally connecting each scoring element on the rear and at the lower end thereof upon said base so that the scoring elements may be vertically arranged upon said base with the bottom surfaces thereof in abutting relation with the top surface of said base, and playing elements for moving the scoring elements into scoring positions, the scoring positions of the elements being that of substantial horizontal arrangement upon the base, the front 1,5ae,ae2

and bottom surfaces of said scoring elements havin similarly arranged indicia thereon.

3. 1%] a game of the class described the combination of a. base having a substantial- 1y horizontal surface, a plurality of playing elements, hinge means connecting the scoring elements to the rear and at the lower ends thereof upon the top surface of said base whereby the scoring elements may be collapsed in substantially horizontal relation upon the base or arranged in vertical relation thereon with the bottom surfaces of the scoring elements engaging in abutting relation with the top surface of the base,

said scoring elements being sub-divided into a series having increasing delineations there- 1 on and a second series having decreasing dehneations thereon, the first series being alternately arranged with the second series,

said scoring elements having the delineations 2 the same may be moved into scoring position upon the base.

JOSEPH H. EWING. 

